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Meet the Maple Leafs’ 14-year-old anthem singer, Mason Greer

Toronto Star follows anthem singer Mason Greer on his journey to Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

By Ryan PorterEntertainment Reporter

Sun., March 27, 2016

Mason Greer, 14, scans the Air Canada Centre and lets out a steady exhalation from right to left, like he’s blowing out candles on a birthday cake. In a low voice that contrasts with his childlike face, he starts to sing, “Ohhhhhh say. Can. You. Se-e-e-e-e.”

It’s the March 19 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres game, the fourth time that Greer has sung the U.S. and Canadian national anthems and the anniversary of his first performance. The young Mississauga-based singer was discovered at an open call alongside 500 other (mostly adult) singers. Since then, he’s become an unofficial Leafs mascot.

“It’s seriously so crazy to think that you watched your favourite team, your hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on TV,” he said the week before at his manager’s office in Oakville, sitting in an office chair where his running shoes don’t quite touch the floor. “And I’m one of their anthem singers now. That’s one of the most surreal things I’ve ever said in my life.”

Hockey Night in Canada was a family tradition for Mason and his family: older brother Mitchell, 19; mother Anne Marie; and father Dave.

Before Mason landed the gig singing the anthems, Dave was diagnosed with pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. From his hospital bed, he was able to watch a video of Mason’s first performance.

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Dave died in June.

Mason Greer, 13, sings the Canadian national anthem prior to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on March 19. (Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

“I always thought that he was going to win because he was such a big guy,” Mason says. “He was so strong.”

When Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment security guard Doug Bulmer heard, he arranged for the players to sign a Morgan Rielly jersey (Rielly is Mason’s favourite player) and reserved a seat for him and his mom behind the Leafs bench.

The biggest stage in Canadian sports has opened doors for Mason. After seeing him sing at a Leafs game, a friend of producer Michael Hanson suggested the former Glass Tiger drummer work with Mason. Since then, Hansen and Mason have been recording original pop songs together, such as the high-gloss love song “Vows.”

Mason describes his own personal taste as classic rock (Pink Floyd, The Eagles), pop (“like new Biebs, Ariana Grande stuff”) and metal band Slipknot (“some of their songs! Some of their songs are a little too extreme.”)

Manager Ramsin Khachi says Mason inherited his love of music from his dad. Khachi was best friends with Mason’s dad in high school and recalls road trips where everyone would sing along to the Beatles, and everyone would sound awful — except for Dave Greer.

“Mason’s dad just loved singing,” Khachi says. “I’m not surprised that Mason has that talent.”

Mason credits his parents not just for their musical influence, but their support as well. “My mom will take me basically anywhere,” he says, his mom looking on with tears in her eyes. “Whether it’s singing lessons or a Toronto game where she would travel hours and hours to get me there.”

“And I always looked up to my dad,” he continues. “My dad was the best father I really could have asked for.”

“I’m a huge hockey fan. I’ve loved it basically since I was born. I always watched hockey games with my dad and my whole family. They thought that I would succeed in one way, but Toronto Maple Leafs? They’re mind-blown, really.”

Correction - April 4, 2016: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled Michael Hanson's surname.

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